73-year-old grandmother fights back during armed robbery

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -– A 73-year-old grandmother fought back when an armed robber forced his way into her home Tuesday night in the 1000 block of Fanning Street.

Rosa Bridges, who did not wish to appear on camera for fear of retaliation, says she and her granddaughter had just returned home from dinner, and were bringing in a few bags from the car when the incident happened.

She says when the two got inside the house, her granddaughter went to lock the front door behind them. She says that’s when a masked black male with a gun tried to force his way inside.

Bridges says her daughter was struggling to close the door when the man overpowered her and got inside. She says the man demanded money, and hit her granddaughter with the gun on the back of the head and face.

Bridges says exactly what happened last night is a bit blurry, but at some point in the struggle, she tried to protect herself with knives. She could not remember what exactly she did with the knives, but she says they ended up on the floor.

Bridges says her granddaughter left the room to get money, and that’s when she realized the man no longer had a gun in his hand. Bridges says her granddaughter returned and threw the money at the suspect, before he ran from the home.

Bridges says her granddaughter was taken to the hospital and has since been released in good condition.